Twins drown
ARLINGTON - Based on their preliminary investigation, Arlington police said they do not believe negligence was involved in the apparent drowning deaths of twin brothers at their grandmother's house Tuesday night in Arlington.
Police said they believe 4-year-old Mark and Luke Nguyen, of Grand Prairie, died by accident after getting into the backyard in-ground pool unnoticed. The twins slipped out the door of their grandmother's house, located in the 3200 block of Hunter Cove Drive, within five to 10 minutes of arriving with their father. Police said the boys got through a gate around the pool, which may or may not have been secured at the time.
At the Nguyen family home in Grand Prairie, the boy's mother spoke with News 8 about what happened.
Huong Nguyen said her boys went with their father to check on their grandmother, who has diabetes. She said as her husband went to check on his mother, within minutes the boys had slipped out of the family room door and walked into the backyard.
She said her husband noticed almost immediately and pulled the boys out of the pool still alive, but unresponsive. Records show he called 911 at 10:40. Hopeful rescuers arrived just four minutes later. The 911 call taker also gave CPR instructions to the father until help arrived.
"They were pulse-less on scene," said Arlington Fire Lieutenant Kevin Seeton. "So they did start CPR there and continued throughout transport."
The ambulance rushed the boys to the Medical Center of Arlington, but by the time they arrived, it was already too late. Seeton said the boys never regained a pulse.
Nguyen sobbed openly while talking about the tragedy, telling News 8 her twin boys were her blessings and now they are gone. She said it's all she can do to care for her youngest toddler, now just one year old. The boy's father was so distraught he wasn't able to utter a single word.
State records show 29 child drownings in Texas so far this summer. This makes four in Tarrant County, two so far in Dallas County and one in Denton County.
Many fire departments, including Arlington, will make free home visits to teach parents and kids pool safety. Rescuers also urge parents to take the time to learn CPR.
E-mail cvega@wfaa.com and jdouglas@wfaa.com
